Recommendation of a good systematic particle physics book

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around recommendations for systematic particle physics textbooks suitable for someone pursuing a PhD in astroparticle physics. Participants are seeking resources that provide a solid foundation in particle physics, with an emphasis on experimental connections and relevance to cosmology.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • Brian Martin recommends "Nuclear and Particle Physics," highlighting its comprehensive table of contents covering basic concepts, nuclear phenomenology, particle phenomenology, experimental methods, and outstanding questions in the field.
  • Christopher G. Tully suggests "Elementary Particle Physics in a Nutshell," noting its prerequisites and level, and provides a link to the table of contents which includes topics like the Dirac equation, gauge principles, and Higgs physics.
  • A participant expresses dissatisfaction with their previous particle physics education and seeks systematic resources that connect particle physics with cosmology and astroparticle physics.
  • Another participant inquires about papers on palladium nanoparticles characterized through light scattering methods, indicating a broader interest in experimental techniques, though this is somewhat tangential to the main topic of particle physics textbooks.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants have not reached a consensus on a single recommended textbook, as multiple suggestions have been made. The discussion remains open with various viewpoints on suitable resources.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express specific needs for textbooks that include experimental foundations and connections to cosmology, indicating that not all suggested resources may meet these criteria.

For those who have used this book

  • Strongly Recommend

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Lightly Recommend

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Lightly don't Recommend

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    1
Messages
19,910
Reaction score
10,919

Code:
Table of Contents
Preface to Second Edition.
Notes.

1. Basic Concepts.

1.1 History.

1.2 Relativity and Antiparticles.

1.3 Space-Time Symmetries and Conservation Laws.

1.4 Interactions and Feynman Diagrams.

1.5 Particle Exchange: Forces and Potentials.

1.6 Observable Quantities: Cross-sections and Decay Rates.

1.7 Units: Length, Mass and Energy.

Problems.

2. Nuclear Phenomenology.

2.1 Mass Spectroscopy .

2.2 Nuclear Shapes and Sizes.

2.3 Semi-Empirical Mass Formula: the Liquid Drop Model.

2.4 Nuclear Instability.

2.5 Radioactive Decay.

2.6 βDecay Phenomenology.

2.7 Fission.

2.8 γDecays.

2.9 Nuclear Reactions.

Problems.

3. Particle Phenomenology.

3.1 Leptons.

3.2 Quarks.

3.3 Hadrons.

Problems.

4. Experimental Methods.

4.1 Overview.

4.2 Accelerators and Beams.

4.3 Particle Interactions with Matter.

4.4 Particle Detectors.

4.5 Multi-Component Detector Systems.

Problems.

5. Quark Dynamics: The Strong Interaction .

5.1 Colour.

5.2 Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD).

5.3 Heavy Quark Bound States.

5.4 The Strong Coupling Constant and Asymptotic Freedom.

5.5 Quark-Gluon Plasma.

5.6 Jets and Gluons.

5.7 Colour Counting.

5.8 Deep Inelastic Scattering and Nucleon Structure.

Problems.

6. Weak Interactions And Electroweak Unification.

6.1 Charged and Neutral Currents.

6.2 Symmetries of the Weak Interaction.

6.3 Spin Structure of the Weak Interactions.

6.4 W± and Z0 Bosons.

6.5 Weak Interactions of Hadrons: Charged Currents.

6.6 Meson Decays and CP Violation.

6.7 Neutral Currents and the Unified Theory.

Problems.

7. Models And Theories Of Nuclear Physics .

7.1 The Nucleon-Nucleon Potential.

7.2 Fermi Gas Model.

7.3 Shell Model.

7.4 Non-Spherical Nuclei.

7.5 Summary of Nuclear Structure Models.

7.6 α-Decay.

7.7 β-Decay.

7.8 γ-Emission and Internal Conversion.

Problems.

8. Applications Of Nuclear Physics.

8.1 Fission.

8.2 Fusion.

8.3 Nuclear Weapons.

8.4 Biomedical applications.

Problems.

9. Outstanding Questions and Future Prospects.

9.1 Overview.

9.2 Hadrons and Nuclei .

9.3 The Origin of Mass: the Higgs Boson .

9.4 The Nature of the Neutrino.

9.5 Beyond the Standard Model: Unification Schemes.

9.6 Particle Astrophysics.

9.7 Nuclear Medicine.

9.8 Power Production and Nuclear Waste.

Appendix A: Some Results In Quantum Mechanics.

A.1 Barrier Penetration.

A.2 Density of States.

A.3 Perturbation Theory and the Second Golden Rule.

A.4 Isospin Formalism.

A.4.1 Isospin operators and quark states.

A.4.2 Hadron states.

Appendix B: Relativistic Kinematics.

B.1 Lorentz Transformations and Four-Vectors.

B.2 Frames of Reference.

B.3 Invariants.

Problems B.

Appendix C: Rutherford Scattering.

C.1 Classical Physics.

C.2 Quantum Mechanics.

Problems C.

Appendix D: Gauge Theories.

D.1 Gauge Invariance and the Standard Model.

D.1.1 Electromagnetism and the gauge principle.

D.1.2 The standard model.

D.2 Particle Masses and the Higgs Field.

Appendix E: Data.

E.1 Physical Constants and Conversion Factors.

E.2 Tables of Particle Properties.

D.2.1 Gauge bosons.

D.2.2 Leptons.

D.2.3 Quarks.

D.2.4 Baryons.

D.2.5 Mesons.

E.3 Tables of Nuclear Properties.

D.3.1 Properties of naturally occurring isotopes.

D.3.2 The periodic table.

Appendix F: Solutions To Problems.

References.

Bibliography.

Index.
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org

Table of Contents: http://press.princeton.edu/chapters/c9633.pdf

1 Particle Physics: A Brief Overview
2 Dirac Equation and Quantum Electrodynamics
3 Gauge Principle
4 Hadrons
5 Detectors and Measurements
6 Neutrino Oscillations and CKM Measurements
7 e+e- Collider Physics
8 Hadron Colliders
9 Higgs Physics

http://press.princeton.edu/titles/9633.html
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi,

Can anybody, please, recommend a good systematic particle physics book?
I graduated physics and now I'm doing a PhD in astroparticle physics, but I am not satisfied with the particle physics knowledge "gathered" so far. I didn't like the lectures from my professor at university -they were always confusing to me :/ so, now, I would like to give a second chance to particles :)
can you recommend something good, systematic, with the foundations in experiments and good connection with cosmology/astroparticle physics...I am also looking for links of other lectures, articles...anything qualitative is good and will be useful!
 
Hi there. I didn't know where to post this. If there is a proper section, please move it.

The thing is that I am looking for papers on which they characterize palladium nanoparticles through light scattering methods. I've found palladium nanoparticles characterized by TEM, IR, XPS, etc. but I was looking in particular for anyone who has characterized it by light scattering. I looked through google, and found this: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23360464

And I found a few more. What I particularly need is something where they explains clearly as possible the characterization through light scattering. I don't have too much access to science magazines here in my house, but I could access to some at my university, which have some subscriptions. I look for it on monday, but until then, if anyone can help me with this I will really appreciate it.

Thanks.
 

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